A CONVERSATION WITH MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF GERMANY CHRISTINE LAMBRECHT - Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has catalyzed what German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called a Zeitenwende, a sea change in Germany’s strategic outlook, culminating in a historic shift of Germany’s foreign and defense policy. Within weeks, Germany dedicated a special 100 billion Euro fund to defense investments, and pledged to meet the NATO defense spending target of 2 percent from this year onwards. The German government has already begun turning this rhetoric into action, most notably with the announcement of the plan to purchase F-35 fighter jets from the United States. With a more active German role in Europe’s security and defense, Germany will be critical to defending the transatlantic alliance and shaping Europe’s future security and defense posture.

As Germany grappled with the implications of its rapid policy changes, Minister of Defence Christine Lambrecht joined the Atlantic Council for a discussion covering topics from the future of German defense posture to defense investments, especially in the face of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 3/29/2022